By 
December 18th, 2024
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-19 crew carried out their first space walking duties outside the Tiangong space station. In doing so, they set a new record for the duration of EVAs by Chinese astronauts, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Lasting nine hours, the Tuesday stroll was the longest among the 17 EVAs so far carried out in China’s human spaceflight program.
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on October 30, sending three astronauts — Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze – to the orbiting outpost.
Debris shielding installation
Cai and Song were assigned the EVA tasks, while Wang assisted the outside twosome from inside the space station. It marked Cai’s third EVA in space, following his two spacewalks during his Shenzhou-14 mission in the second half of 2022.
Wang Haoze assisted EVA crew from inside the space station.
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
One central spacewalk task was installing debris shielding.
“The installation of the protective panels this time is mainly to protect the cables and pipelines of the thermal control equipment outside the Tianhe module from debris,” said Meng Lingzi, a staffer of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
“During the development phase, the ground researchers conducted a full-process simulation verification of the entire task. The visibility, accessibility, and operability were all verified through ergonomic evaluations and underwater tests,” explained Meng in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Robotic arm
Given the dispersed installation locations of the protection devices on the station, the two astronauts carried out the task with one using the robotic arm while the other climbed outside the station to assist.
During the nine hours, the Shenzhou-19 crew also performed other tasks, such as inspecting extravehicular equipment and facilities.
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The Shenzhou-19 crew is set to carry out a slew of scheduled space-science experiments and technical tests, while they will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, according to the CMSA.
Sent to the station for a six-month tour of duty, the Shenzhou-19 crew is expected to return to Earth in late April or early May.
Go to this CCTV video of the spacewalk at:
Posted in Space News
